Ore-washing machine.



A. E. BOOKWALT-ER. ORE WASHING MACHINE. rmcmou man sums. 1916;

1237,2372 Patented Aug. 14,1917.

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Snow wot QXM/nm I J5? zaoZw wfler A. E. BOOKWALTER.

ORE WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION man SEPT. 5. 1915,.

Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

A. E. BOOKWALTER. ORE WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-5| $916.

Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

awuewto'z ALBERT EDWARD BOOKWALTER, OF COEUR DALENE, IDAHO.

onn-wssnm MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug, 14, 1917.,

I Application filed September 5, 1916. Serial No. 118,536.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT E. Boon- WALTER, a citizen of the United States, re-

a reciprocating frame movable within a water box above a series of cells in the lower portion of the latter.

The mainobj ect of the invention is to provide simple and efficient means for positively preventing direct communication be tween the numerous cells, whereby the different grades of ore therein may be totally segregated. Y I

A- further object is to provide an unproved arrangement of parts for effectively separating the precious metal from the waste material.

With the foregoing objects 111 view, the

invention resides in certain novel features of construction, and inj-unique combinations of parts to be hereinafter fully descr bed and claimed, the descriptive matter being supplemented by the accompanying drawings which constitute a part of this application and in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudlnal section through an ore washing machine constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken 'on the plane indicated by the line 2-2 of Fi 1- I ig. 3 is a vertical transverse section taken on the plane indicated by the line 3- 3 of Fig. i is an end elevation;

Fig. 5 is a sectional perspective of a portion of the machine; and,

Fig. 6 is a detail longitudinal section showing the screen employed when washing over-size ore in placer mining.

In specifically describing the structure shown in the drawings above brlefly described, similar characters will be placed on corresponding. parts throughout the several views and reference will be herein madeto the numerous elements by their respective indices. To this end,'the numeral 1 designates a water box of any suitable construc tion, the ends 2 of said box being of considerably less height than the sides 3 thereof. Any desired number of partitions may extend between the sides 3 to divide the lower portion of the box 1 into a plurality of cells a in which the precious metal is to be collected and from which said metal may be removed in any appropriate manner.

,But one partition is shown in the present case, said partition being designated by the numeral 5, but it is to be understood that any required number may be employed.

Mounted in the box 1 above the ends 2 and partition 5 and spaced from the sides 3 of said box, is an ore shaking frame 6,

said frame comprising parallel sides 7, ends 8, and a partition 9, said ends and partition being disposed above the corresponding parts of the box 1. The ends 8 and artition 9 are all formed with horizonta slots 10, the slots of the former communicating respectively with an inlet chute l1 and a discharge chute 12 by means of which the material to be washed is conveyed to the machine and the waste discharged therefrom. The slot 10 of the partition 9 serves to permit the passage of material from one half of the frame 6 into the other half thereof, both of said halves having therein means for so acting upon the ore laden slime as to separate the ore therefrom. The frame 6 may be mounted in any appropriate manner but it is preferably suspendedupon hangers 13. Similarly, any appropriate means may be provided for reciprocating said frame. In the present case, a driven eccentric 14 actuates a fiexible connecting rod '15, one of whose ends is secured to the partition 9.

A series of horizontal parallel slats 16 extend across a frame 16 mounted on cleats 1G in the lower portion of the frame 6 below the slots 10, said slats being-diamondshape in cross section and having their upper and lower edges in vertical alinement in order that they may cause the water to be agitated and surge upwardly and downwar 1y through the sifting means hereinafter described, to loosen any ore which may become clogged in the sifting means, and also to create a suction to draw the ore downwardly through the sifting means. A screen 17 preferably of'wire mesh is disposed above the slats 16 for the purpose of supporting ing on the frame 16. Under current bafle plates 20 extend between the sides of a frame 20 resting on the frame 19, these platesba ing spaced apart and inclined downwardly from the inlet toward the outlet end of the machine. These bafle plates serve to hasten the passage of the stock through the machine and to submerge any ore that might float on the surface of the water. The lower edges of these plates are spaced above the rifles 19 to coact with the beveled edges of the rifles, whereby to allow of the free passage of the ore away from the inlet and 'tocheck the return of the ore toward the inlet when the shaking frame is reciprocated.

Since the parts 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 must all operate in the water, it becomes necessary to provide some simple means for preventing leakage of this fluid above'the ends 2. For this purpose, end sheets 21 of flexible or pliable material extend between the upper edges of the ends 2' and the lower edges of the ends 8, said sheets also extending between the sides 3 and 7. The inner edges of the sheets 21 are preferably secured between cleats 22 which are in turn fixed to the sides 7 and to the lower edges of the ends 8. The outer edges of said sheets contact with cleats 23 secured to the sides 3 and with the outer surfaces of the ends 2, said edges being held in contact with these parts by U-shaped metal frames 24 secured thereto in any suitable manner. The sheets 21 may be constructed of any suitable flexible or pliable material such as leather, rub her or metal, it being, however, essential that said sheets be impervious and that their edges be anchored in such a manner as to prevent the leakage of water.

A flexible partition member 21 extends between the partitions 9 and 5 and between the sides 3 and 7, this member being constructed and anchored similarly to the members 21 and serving to prevent any possibility of ore which should descend into one cell 4 entering the other. This partition member will also permit a higher water level in one of said cells if necessary.

Water may be supplied to the box 1 by any appropriate means, a pipe 25 being preferably provided for this purpose, said pipe having a valve 26 for each compartment or cell of the machine.-

ln operation, ore laden stock will befed into the chute 11, the frame 6 being now reciprocated in the watentrapped in the box 1. This stock will now be moved toward the discharge end of the machine by the reciprocating motion of the frame and by the formation of the rifles 19 and bafle plates 20. While this is taking place, the precious metal will descend upon the shot 18 and will pass therethrough into the cells l, this being facilitated by the bafle plates 20 and by the diamond-shape of the slats 16 as above suggested. It is to be observed not enter the other; It will thus be seen that more perfect grading can be done and that the machine will therefore be extremely efficient.

As shown in Fig. 6, a screen S may be placed over the rifles 19 if desired, this screen excluding over-size ore, from the shot and being only employed when over-size prevails in placer mining.

in the foregoing, I have described numerous specific details of construction and in the accompanying drawings have illustrated the same, but it is to be understood that within the scope of the invention as claimed, numerous changes may be made without sacrificing the main advantages thereof.

I claim:

1. In an ore washing machine, a water box, an ore shaking frame mounted in said box, and means for shaking said frame; in combination with a series of parallel transverse diamond-shape slats extending between and rigidly secured to the sides of the frame, a screen resting on said slats, a

plurality of rifle slats extending transversely in the frame upon said screen and in almement with said diamond-shaped slats to form pockets for shot or the like, and a plurality of parallel horizontal bafle plates extendin between and rigidly secured to the sides of the aforesaid frameabove the rifle slats, said plates being inclined away from the inlet of the machine topermit passage of ore between said slots and plates away from the inlet and to check the passage of the ore toward the inlet, said plates having their lower ends spaced above said rifle slats.

2. An ore washing machine having a w'a ter box, an ore shaking frame mounted in the box, and means for shaking said frame; in combination with ore separating means comprising a frame resting upon cleats on the walls of the shaking frame below the water level in the water box, said frame having a series of spaced transversely extending parallel diamond shaped slats rigidly secured to the frame with their upper frame, a screen secured between said frames, the second frame having' a series of riflie slats secured to the walls of the frame and in vertical alinement with the diamondshaped slats to form pockets for shot or the like, said rifile slats being substantially rectangular in cross section and having their upper edges adjacent the inlet of the machine beveled, a third frame resting on said second frame and provided with a plurality of parallel spaced baflle plates inclined downwardly from the inlet to the outlet of the machine and having their lower ends spaced above the rifile slats in the said second frame to allow a free passage of ore between said plates and riflle slats away from the inlet.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALBERT EDWARD BOOKWALTER.

Witnesses:

LAWRENCE M. LARSON, R01 L. Emma. 

